White River fish trap killing thousands of salmon

Posted by: pijon

White River fish trap killing thousands of salmon - 04/19/14 02:36 AM

Maybe my first post shouldn't be a negative but I am passing this on in an attempt to turn up the heat on the Corps of Engineers.
http://www.americanrivers.org/endangered-rivers/2014-report/white-washington/
It only takes a minute to send the email. All the writing is done for you but you can say anything you want.
Here is a video of the problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozkEY2S4hFU

The White River has an endangered run of Spring Chinook. They are averaging 2000 fish returning each year for the last ten. The low was 6 fish in 1986. The outdated fish trap is one of the issues hindering this program. This is not a mass production operation. The goal is around 1000 natural spawners. They are averaging just a few hundred. There has been extensive habitat restoration in the Puyallup/White river watershed and it is a continuing effort.
Contact me and I will be glad to give you more information.
Thanks
Posted by: old nate

Re: White River fish trap killing thousands of salmon - 04/19/14 08:55 PM

Thanks for posting this, I cant believe that this is the first I have heard of this. email has been sent.
Posted by: pijon

Re: White River fish trap killing thousands of salmon - 04/19/14 09:34 PM

Thanks for sending the email.
I have posted this on other boards also. It is just disgusting to see these fish kill themselves against this structure. Here is another link for more understanding of the situation.

http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/watersheds/white-river/facts.aspx

The fish are trapped and trucked from this fish killing trap up river past the Mud Mountain Dam. One of the issues is after all the beating trying to get around the trap, and the truck ride, some have nothing left for spawning.